Apparatus for processing motion picture film



Oct. 3i, 1939. 4F. w. GAGE 2,177,705

APPARATUS FDR PROCESSING MGTION FICTURE FILM @mman INVENTQR. co W GAGE ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1939. p1 w, GAGE 2,77,706

AE'ARATUS FR PRCESSING MGTIN PICTURE FILM Filed Hay 31, E938 3Shees-Shset 2 NVENR. IFA-PED W GAGE 0st. 31, 1939. F. w. GAGE 2,177,70ti

APEEATUS FR FROCESSING MOTIDN PIETURE FIJM Filed Hay 3l, 1938 3Sheets-521651, 3

' the nlin Patented Oct. 31, 1939 reins APPARATUS FOR RUCESSKNG MOTIONPICTURE MLM 'Warner Bros. Pictures, inc., New

corporation or Delaware York, N. Y., a

Application May 3l, 1938, Serial No. 210,847

. 1l Ciaims.

rlChis invention relates `to apparatus for the treatment of motionpicture nlm and has special reference to film treating apparatus of thejet type, such as that disclosed claimed in copending application S. N.2G5,5ll, filed May'Z, i933 the of Albert W. Tondreau, wherein atingliquid is directed onto the surface oi the n i a plurality of jets whilethe filrn is traversed in a has oi' the treating liquid. The jets oi t.'liquid in'ijiinging on the suriace of the fili.. r .duce the effects ofchemical drag and the eiiects-of saturation oi the liquid with ythereaction Aconfusounds directly adjacent the filrn sur- -face. In thistype of apparatus they treating liquid is sprayed or directed onto thefilm through various jets submerged under the level of a body of thesaine liquid to prevent oxidation thereof. This submersion oi thevarious jets is especially valuable in employing present ,day commercialdeveloping solutions which rapidly break down When aerated or oxidized.

One object oi the present invention is to reduce oxidation ci" treatingsolutions in circulating systems for motionpicture nlm treatment.

A further object is to prevent during the course of development, rapidchange of the chemical.

composition of a treating solution in a lin treating tank due toreaction with the iihn.

A further object oi the invention is to prevent recirculation ofconcentrated or diluted portions only of a lzn treatin r solution due tosettling of such solution in a film treating tank.

A further object is to facilitate lling of a developing tank employingthe jet type of film treating system.

A. further object is to reduce the number of pumping units required toconduct iilrn treating solution through a nini treating system.

rihe invention contemplates film treating tanks wherein the iilrn to vbetreated is progressed in a continuous manner therethrough. Treatingliquids such as developer, rinsing and fixer solutions, are continuouslycirculated and/ or recirculated through the various tanks. Each solutionis removed from tank or tanks at different levels to prevent the removalof only concentrate or diluted portions oi the whole body of thesolution, bearing in mind that iilin treating solutions tend to vary indensity at different levels, especially after standing a short periodofy time. The solution thus removed. from the various tanks isre-circulated and fed through suitable jet forming devices locatedwithin the various tanks. A reservoir, having a capacity in excess ofthe capacity ofthe various tanks, is provided through which at least(ci. iis- 94) a portion oi' the recirculated treating liquid is v passedwhereby the degree of change oi the chemical coinposition of thetreating liquid due to the chemical reaction between the liquid and thefilm reduced to prevent rapid breakdown of such liquid.

The invention further contemplates means for filling the various tanks,when empty, without oxidation by passing the treating liquid through thenormally discharging pipe lines oi the tanks and not through the jetforming devices.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention areaccomplished will be readily understood on reference to the followingspecication readv in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a schematic plan View of a lrn treating system embodying thepresent invention.

li'ig. 2 is an elevational view of the system illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig.i 3 is a transverse sectional lview in detail of a film treatingtank to which the present invention is applicable.

Fig. l is a sectional View, with parts broken away, through a manifoldand jet tube connected thereto.

Although the inventionis not limited to use with any particular type ofilin treating system of the jet or spray type, I preferably employ thesystem disclosed and claimed in the hereinbefore mentioned copendingapplication S. N. 205,577, a prticn of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4i.

As shownin Figs. l and 2 the various film treating tanks il, Id, l l,etc., through which the film is successively passed, are aligned witheach other and supported upon a foundation l2 extending upwardly from afloor i3. Each of these tanks il, lo and il etc. is rectangular in crosssection and extends vertically.

' A rectangular frame lll is mounted within each tank and is supportedby a horizontally extending channel ill (Fig. 3). Channel l5 issupported at spaced points on arms, one of which is shown at it,vertically adjustable in a suitable manner along posts, one of which isshown at il, embedded in the foundation i2. Spool heads lll and i9 arespaced vertically within each tank section. Spool heads lli are fixedand spool heads i9 are adjustably stationed along the side members ofthe rectangular fraine lil. Rows oi iilin guiding spools, two of whichare shown at i@ and il l, are rotatably mounted on the spool heads iiiand i9, respectively, to guide the iilin f being treated in a plurality0f elongated vertically extending loops through each tank. A iilrnseparating roller 22,

rotatably mounted on the lower end of a vertical rod 23 which is securedby means of a clamp 86 to the cross channel I5, is provided to separatethe adjacent opposing strands of the film in the various loops,preventing the sprays from jets 2E, 2T etc. from forcing opposite sidesof the loops of film into Contact with each other during traverse of thefilm through the treating solution. The film f is driven in a continuousmanner through the treating apparatus by sprockets, as at 6l, individualto each tank. Each sprocket 61 is mounted on a sprocket shaft 58 driventhrough a gear unit, generally indicated at 59, by a horizontal driveshaft l0 extending throughout the length of the treating apparatus. Asuitable motor (not shown) is provided to drive shaft TU.

The above mentioned film driving and guiding mechanism is disclosed andclaimed in the copending patent application Serial No. 193,966, ledMarch 4, 1938 in the name of A. W. Tondreau.

A jet manifold 24 rests on the upper and rear edge of each tank andextends longitudinally thereof. A plurality of jet tubes, one of whichis shown at 25, are connected side by side to the manifold 24 and dependtherefrom into the interior of the respective tanks. These tubes 25 havejet orifices as at 26 and 2'I (Fig. 4) spaced therealong in verticalalignment with each other to direct the film treating solution fromthese various jet tubes in the form of a spray or jet on the surface ofthe film passing through the tanks. These various tubes are situateddirectly adjacent the rear strand of each loop of film.

The film treating liquid, on mpinging on the film surface, mixes withthe remainder of the liquid within the tank and overflows adjacent thetop of the tank, through overflow pipes. These various pipes are shownat 21, 28 and 29 for the various tanks 9, I0 and I I,`respectively.

It will be noted that the system shown in Fig. 1 is to supply the threelm tanks 9, I0 and I I with the same kind of treating solution. However,another similar system may be provided to supply other film tanks (notshown) with a different kind of treating solution. These various filmtanks may be aligned with each other to permit the film being treated tobe successively progressed in a continuous manner through the variousfilm tanks.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the various manifolds 24 for the tanks9, I0 and II are connected together through hose couplings 30, 3I and32. A T-connection 33, intermediate and connected to the hose couplings3I and 32, is connected to a jet supply pipe line 34 which receives filmtreating liquid under pressure. A second series of jet manifolds (notshown) with jet tubes depending therefrom, may also be positioned in thevarious tanks by supporting the same on the front edges of the tanks.These manifolds in the second series may be connected together in amanner similar to the connections between the manifolds 24. A line maybe provided between this second series and the jet line 34.

A temperature regulator 35 and filter 36 are provided in the pipe line34 to maintain the treating liquid at a constant and proper temperatureand to lter any impurities within the liquid. The jet line 34 isconnected to the discharge end or opening 3'! of a pump 38. Pump 38 isdriven by a motor 39 and is preferably of the centrifugal type. Thesuction end 61 of pump 38 is normally connected through a valve 40 to asuction pipe `line 4I which is connected to the various tanks 9, I0, IIetc. through the branch lines 42, 43 and 44, respectively to dischargethe film treating liquid from those tanks. rhese lines 42, 43 and 44open into the bottoms of the various tanks as shown in Fig. 3.

The overflow pipes 21, 28 and 29 are connected to a main overflow linei5 which feeds by gravity into a reservoir 46. Reservoir 46 a capacitywhich is much greater than the combined capacities of the various tanks9, IU, II etc. line 48 opening into the bottom of the reservoir 46 isconnected through a valve 49 to the suction end 6i" of pump 38.

In normal operation, the treating solution is recirculated bysimultaneously drawing the same from the film tanks 9, I0, II andreservoir 4B, respectively, through the suction lines 4I and 48, throughthe pump 3i! and thence under pressure through the jet line 34 to thevarious manifolds in the tanks 9, IIJ and II. The valves 4D and 49 inthe suction lines 4I and 48, respectively, are only partly opened sothat a portion of the solution to be passed through the jet line 34 isobtained from the bottoms of the various tanks and the remainderobtained from the overflow thereof. This provision permits the liquid tobe withdrawn from the tanks at different levels and therefore preventsonly concentrated or only diluted portions of the liquid from beingre-circulated. Furthermore, the valves are preferably so opened that alarge portion of the liquid is drawn through the suction line 4I toreduce as far as possible the aeration of the liquid caused by overhowthrough the overfiow line 45, it being noted that, since the level ofthe liquid in each tank is usually below the top (but always above thebottom) of the outlet opening of the respective overflow pipe line, asshown in Fig. 3, a considerable amount of air will be mixed with theliquid while passing through the overflow pipe 45. It has been foundthat best results have been obtained when the valves 40 and 49 are soopened that approximately '75% of the liquid is passed through thesuction pipe line 4I, the remainder being drawn through the pipe line48.

A plurality of mixing tanks 50, 5I, 52 and 53 are provided to mix thevarious chemicals of the treating solutions or liquids before passingthe same into the reservoir 46 and tanks 9, I0 and II. These varioustanks 5IJ-53, inclusive, are connected through valves 54, 55, 56 and 5l,respectively to a feed line 58. Line 58 is connected through a valve 59to the suction end 39 of pump 38.

A by-pass line B0 is connected to the jet line 34 intermediate theexhaust end 3T of pump 38 and a valve 6l in line 34. Line 6U isconnected through a valve 62 to the suction line 4I intermediate thevalve 43 and the lower discharge openings of the various tanks 9, I9 andII. A reservoir filling line E3 empties into the reservoir 46 and isconnected to the by-pass line E0 at a point intermediate the valve G2and the jet line 34.

When the various tanks 9, I0 and II, as well as reservoir 4S, are to befilled with a fresh treating liquid they are emptied in a suitablemanner and the various different chemicals to produce such treatingliquid or solution are mixed in the different tanks 5D to 53, inclusive.For example, borax may be dissolved in one tank, hydroquinone may bedissolved in a second, etc. in amounts determined by the formula forthat particular treating liquid. After these various solutions have beenthoroughly mixed the valves A suction 1 and i l. This provision permitsthe treating soin-- tion to nll the various tanks from the bottomsthereof, without going through the jets 2li, 2l, thus reducing to alarge extent aeration which would be caused if the same were ied throughthe various jet tubes 25 into the empty tanks. l/Vhen the tanks 9, Illand l l are nlled, the solution runs through the various overnow pipes2l, 23 and 2S and into the reservoir d6. This indicates to the valveoperator that the various tanks are nlled to their proper heights withsolution. The valve 55s is thereafter closed and the valve tit isopened, permitting the remainder ci the solution passing through theline 58 to be forced through the reservoir nlling line 63 and into thereservoir it.

' When the solution in the reservoir 5G reaches a proper height or whenthe various tanks iin to 5t, inclusive, are emptied, valve lill isclosed and the system set in normal recirculating operation by openingthe jet line valve 6l, the suction line valve 40, and the suction linevalve liti, the valves 59, EZ and Ell being closed.

The pressure of the various jets upon the nlm as it passes through thetreating tanks may be varied by adjusting the jet line valve tl.

I claim:

1. Film treating apparatus comprising a nlm tank, means for guiding anlm through said tank, means forming jets to direct a flow of nlmtreating liquid against the film in said tank, a suction pipe lineconnected to said tank, a pump having its inlet connected to saidsuction line and having its outlet connected to said jet means, areservoir having a capacity large in relation to the capacity of saidtank, an overnow line between said tank and said reservoir forconducting overnow from said tank to said reservoir, and a suction linebetween said reservoir and said inlet of said pump.

2. Film treating apparatus according to claim l comprising valve meansfor regulating the now of liquid through said suction lines.

3. Film treating apparatus comprising a nlm tank, means for guiding anlm through said tank, means forming jets in said tank adapted to directa flow or nlm treating liquid against the nlm in said tank, a suctionline and an overflow line connected to said tank for normally removn ingliquid therefrom, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, means connectingsaid suction line and said overflow line to the inlet of said pump,means connecting said jet forming means to the outlet of said pump atcertain times to pass said nlm treating liquid from said suction lineand said overnow line to said jet forming means, a liquid supply, meansfor connecting said liquid supply to the inlet of said pump at othertimes, and means for connecting said suction line to the outlet of saidpump at said other times whereby said tank may be nlled from said liquidsupply through said suction line.

4. Film treating apparatus comprising a nlm tank, means for guiding anlm through said tank, means forming jets adapted to direct a flow ofnlm treating liquid against the nlm in said tank, an overnow line and asuction line connected to said tank for normally removing liquidtherefrom, a reservoir adapted to receive liquid overflowing throughsaid overflow line from said tank, a `chenfiical tank, a pump, meansconnecting said reservoir and said suction line to the inlet of saidpump, means connecting said jet forming means to the outlet of saidpump, connections adapted to disconnect said suction line from saidinlet of said pump and connect said suction line to said outlet of saidpump, and means adapted to connect said chemical tank to said inlet ofsaid pump tank, whereby said nlm tank may he quickly nlled from saidreservoir or from said chemical tank through said suction line.

5. Film treating apparatus comprising a nlm rank, means for guiding .anlm through said tank, means forming jets adapted to direct a now of nlmtreating liquid against the nlm in said tank, a pair of pipe linescommunicating with said tank for normally removing liquid therefrom, areservoir for receiving liquid passing through one oi said lines fromsaid tank, a pump, means communicating said reservoir and the other ofsaid lines with the inlet of said pump, means connecting said jetforming means with the outlet of said pump, and means adapted todisconnect said other line with said inlet of said pump and to connectthe same with said outlet of said pump whereby said tank may be quicklynlled with said liquid from said reservoir.

6. Film treating apparatus comprising a nlm tank, means adapted to passa nlm in a predetermined path through said tank, means in said tankforming jets directed toward said nlm path to direct a now of-nlmtreating liquid onto nlm passing through said path, a suction lineconnected to said tank for normally removing nlm treating liquidtherefrom, a pinnp having its suction end connected to said suctionline, said pump having its pressure end connected to said jet formingmeans, a reservoir, means connecting said reservoir to said suction endof said pump, and means adapted to connect said suction line to saidpressure end of said pump whereby said tank may be quickly nlled.

7. Film treating apparatus according to claim e comprising means adaptedto connect said reservoir to said pressure end of said pump when saidsuction line is connected to the inlet of said pump whereby nlm treatingliquid may be transierred from said tank to said reservoir,

8. Film treating apparatus comprising a film treating tank adapted tocontain nlm treating solution wherein certain ingredients of saidsolution tend to settle whereby to form a concentrated solution in thelower part of said tank and a diluted solution in the upper part of saidtank, a pump, means communicating the outlet of said pump with theinterior of said tank, means communicating the inlet oi said pump to theinterior oi said tank at one level, and a second means communicatingsaid inlet of said pump to the interior or" said tank at a differentlevel whereby both said concentrated and said diluted solutions arepassed through said pump.

9. Film treating apparatus comprising a nlm treating tank adapted tocontain a nlm treating solution wherein certain ingredients of saidsolution tend to settle whereby to form a concentrated solution in thelower part of said tank a diluted solution in the upper part of saidtank, a pump, means communicating the outlet or" said pump with theinterior of said tank, an overflow conduit on said tank, meanscommunicating said overflow conduit with the inlet of said pump, and asecond means communicating the interior of said tank adjacent the bottomthereof with the inlet of said tank whereby both i said concentrated andsaid diluted solutions are passed through said pump.

10. Film treating apparatus comprising a film treating tank adapted tocontain a film treating solution susceptible to detrimental effects whenaerated and wherein certain ingredients of said solution tend to settlewhereby to form a concentrated solution in the lower part of said tankand a diluted solution in the upper part of said tank, means for guidinga film through said tank, means forming jets in said tank adapted todirect a ilow of said solution against the film in said tank, areservoir, an cveriiow line connected between said tank and saidreservoir for conducting overflow from said tank to said reser- Voir, apump having its inlet connected to said reservoir and its outletconnected to said jet forming means, a suction line connected at one endthereof to said tank below the opening oi said overiiow line into saidtank and at the other end thereof to said inlet of said pump for aidingsaid overflow line in removing said solution from said tank, and meansadapted to disconnect said suction line from said inlet of said pump andconnect the same to said outlet of said pump whereby said tank may befilled from said reservoir through said suction line.

ll. Film treatingapparatus comprising a plurality of lm treating tanksadapted to contain a lm treating solution susceptible to detrimentaleffects when aerated and wherein certain in gredients of said solutiontend to settle whereby to form a concentrated solution in the lowerparts of said tanks, and a diluted solution in the upper parts of saidtanks, means for guiding a film through said tanks, means forming jetsin said tanks adapted to direct a flow of said solution against the filmin said tanks, a reservoir, an overflow line connected between each ofsaid tanks and said reservoir for conducting overflow from said tanks tosaid reservoir, a pump having its inlet connected to said reservoir andits outlet connected to said jet forming means, a line connected betweensaid tanks and said inlet of said pump for aiding said overflow line inremoving said solution from said tanks, the openings of said lastmentioned line into said tanks extending below the openings of saidoverilow line into said tanks, and means adapted to disconnect said lastmentioned line from the said inlet of said pump and connect the same tosaid outlet of said pump whereby said tanks may be lled from saidreservoir through said last mentioned line.

FRED W. GAGE.

